Therapist gets 10 years for attempted sexual assault during massage

​Ali Alavian, 65, of Garland, was sentenced to 10 years for
Attempted Sexual Assault in Dallas, announced Collin County District Attorney Greg
Willis. “This man violated four
different women on his massage table, which should have been a place of safety,
rest, and rejuvenation. Instead, this
predator turned his massage table into his own personal playground,” Willis said.

Evidence showed that in January 2014, the
victim booked a massage with a company in the Collin County portion of Dallas. The
victim had one previous massage at that company, with Alavian, in December
2013. Since that experience was professional in nature, the victim rebooked
with Alavian on Jan. 3, 2014, when her experience was completely different.

Towards the end of
the massage, Alavian had the victim turn over onto her back, and allowed the
sheet to expose her body. At this point, Alavian’s conduct escalated. He groped,
molested, and attempted to sexually assault the victim. The victim testified
that she was afraid Alavian would become violent if she screamed or fought
back. Before the victim left, Alavian tried to kiss her, and gave her his
personal number so she could arrange private sessions with him off the books.

The victim reported her
traumatic experience to the Dallas Police Department. Detective Christine
Weisskopf’s investigation uncovered similar complaints by other women about
Alavian’s conduct during massage sessions. The jury convicted Alavian of
Attempted Sexual Assault.

During the punishment
phase, three other women testified about the inappropriate massages given by
Alavian. In each case, he would see how much he could get away with sexually
before they complained or reacted. They all indicated they did not react
initially because they were frozen in shock and disbelief that Alavian made the
sexual advances. He would then guilt them by making them feel like it was their
fault and that they, not he, were the ones responsible for his actions.

During a police
interview, Alavian indicated that he believed that the women he massaged would
become aroused by his touch, and that his massage room was similar to Vegas --
in that what happened in there stayed in there.

Evidence during punishment
also showed that despite these women alerting the massage businesses, Alavian
managed to maintain employment as a massage therapist, finding work at three
separate massage therapy businesses. The jury assessed punishment at the
maximum of 10 years in prison.